Shades of Grey

Christmas laughter

Christmas day dawned and the Burrow along with the surrounding area was covered in a thick blanket of snow. Hermione sat up in bed wrapping the quilt tightly around her; she looked over at Ginny's sleeping form and contemplated waking her but decided against it. She quietly put of her dressing gown and slippers and left the room. She walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, expecting it to be empty, but despite the hour Mrs Weasley and Professor Lupin were talking quietly over hot mugs of tea,

"…but I guess if she doesn't want to find her real parents then we shouldn't push her" came Lupin's whispered voice, Hermione retreated into the shadows listening,

"I just can't understand why she hasn't told Harry and Ginny, only Ron knows" Mrs Weasley questioned,

"She doesn't want to worry them Molly and its understandable, its good that she confided in Ron though, she needs someone" Lupin replied.

Hermione stepped forwards announcing her presence and wished them both a 'Merry Christmas' which they returned, she sat down on the bench and accepted the cup of tea that Mrs Weasley passed her. She turned to Professor Lupin,

"Professor, umm I couldn't help but overhear you…if I did want to find my real parents how would I go about it" she felt guilty in even asking her parents were dead and here she was trying to find new ones who had abandoned her years before. Lupin thought for a moment before answering,

" Well Hermione first of all, I'm sorry that we were discussing you behind you back we're just concerned about you" he paused allowing Mrs Weasley to apologise, Hermione smiled and nodded for him to continue, "Secondly, as we are not at school you don't need to call me Professor, Remus will be fine and finally in answer to your question you could look at the Adoption records that are filed at the Ministry of Magic, although its far too dangerous for you to go in the present climate, perhaps you could write to them and see if they can trace your parents?" Hermione nodded and decided that she would write to them the following day,

"How are you feeling Hermione? Would you like your potion now?" Mrs Weasley asked gently,

"No thank you Mrs Weasley, it makes me feel a bit sick if I have it before eating" she replied,

"Ok, well I'll give it to you after breakfast then" she said setting the potion back in the cupboard.

"Hermione, why haven't you told Harry and Ginny about this?" asked Remus looking at her, Hermione gulped,

"Harry's got too much to worry about right now and if I told Ginny she wouldn't like keeping it from him. I know she wouldn't tell him but it would make her feel awkward" Hermione replied looking down at the table, Remus nodded.

Mrs Weasley then stood up and walked over to the bottom of the stairs and shouted loudly, "WEASLEYS, HARRY, TONKS IT'S CHRISTMAS!" she then turned to Hermione and Remus and smiled widely as she heard the sound of ten feet running down the stairs.

Mrs Weasley cooked an enormous breakfast full of lots of Hermione's favourite things, ordinarily she would have been thrilled but today, she couldn't help it she just wasn't feeling festive. She tried to pick her way through breakfast but unfortunately Mrs Weasley noticed and piled extra on to her plate, knowing she had no choice she slowly ate her way through it. She felt awful, it was her first Christmas without her parents and she was still so angry with them for lying to her. She wanted to find her real parents but was angry at them as well. All in all Hermione was feeling very confused.

"Here's your potion Hermione" said Mrs Weasley passing it to her, she gulped down her dose then quickly washed it down with Pumpkin juice,

"What's the potion for Hermione? I thought you said you were fine" said Ginny loudly,

"I am" lied Hermione quickly, "Madam Pomfrey said it was just to give my immune system a boost", Mrs Weasley raised her eyebrows,

"Are you sure you're ok Hermione?" asked Harry

"She's just feeling a bit fragile at the moment Harry" said Ron with a sad smile towards his girlfriend, Remus soon steered the conversation to safer waters and Ron pulled Hermione into the garden for a walk.

"I'm sorry you had to lie Ron" Hermione said quickly as soon as they reached the bench by the pond,

"Don't worry about it, but you will have to tell them soon Hermione, they know something's going on, Harry thought you were pregnant!" said Ron warming her hands with his own,

"What did you say?" asked Hermione with the merest hint of a chuckle,

"I said no of course, he looked like he was about to hit me when he asked!" Hermione laughed out loud and Ron chuckled weakly,

"I'll tell them when I've found my real parents, I've thought about it and I definitely want to find them" she said with a look of determination,

"Ok but just make sure you don't neglect your studies Miss Granger!" said Ron in an obvious (yet very bad) impression of Professor McGonagall.

"Very funny Ron" said Hermione kissing him on his hand, Ron began to laugh again and when Hermione joined in the sound travelled all the way into the kitchen where Mrs Weasley was silently peeling potatoes. A smile graced her lips.

A/N Well what do you think? I managed to get all my favourite characters at least a mention Please review!

Love you all

Laura

xxx